On Tuesday night at PNC Field, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (26-23) began a 12-game road trip starting in Moosic, Pennsylvania, against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (18-30).
This is the second time Lehigh Valley has visited PNC Field this season. In April, the IronPigs won the series four games to two.
Corey Oswalt (0-1, 10.54 ERA) was on the mound for the IronPigs looking for his first win this year, while the RailRiders started Hayden Wesneski (1-4, 2.23 ERA). Making their rehab starts for the IronPigs were Didi Gregorius playing shortstop, and Rafael Marchan was behind home plate.
The IronPigs didn’t waste time at the top of the first inning. On the game’s first pitch, IronPigs’ shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a solo home run out to right field for a 1-0 lead. Then, the IronPigs blew the game wide open at the top of the second inning.
IronPigs’ catcher Rafael Marchan was up at-bat with runners on second and third base. He grounded out to RailRiders’ first baseman Ronald Guzman for the first out but scored a run that extended the IronPigs lead, 2-0. Three batters later, IronPigs’ shortstop Didi Gregorius hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, making it 3-0 IronPigs.
Then, IronPigs’ designated hitter Austin Wynns doubled on a fly ball to right field, adding two more runs, 5-0. Finally, IronPigs’ first baseman Darick Hall crushed a two-run home run near the Budweiser Railhouse area at right field for a 7-0 lead. It was Hall’s 15th home run and 51st run batted in this season.
IronPigs’ starter Corey Oswalt shut down the RailRiders, pitching three innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout. Meanwhile, IronPigs’ relief pitcher James Marvel pitched three innings, allowing two hits, no runs, no walks, and one strikeout.
Moving ahead to the bottom of the seventh inning, the RailRiders got on the board. First, Vineland, New Jersey native Zach Warren was the new pitcher for the IronPigs. RailRiders’ third baseman Phillip Evans was up at-bat with runners on first and second base. He singled to left field, scoring a run that made it 7-1 IronPigs.
Three batters later, with two outs, Warren threw his second wild pitch that scored another run for the RailRiders, 7-2. Warren was taken out after walking RailRiders’ center fielder Estevan Florial. Mark Appel was now the new IronPigs pitcher. He got the last out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the RailRiders scored one more run. RailRiders’ designated hitter Greg Byrd hit a solo home run off the foul pole at right field, making it 7-3 IronPigs.
IronPigs’ relief pitcher Francisco Morales closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. He got the last three outs of the game, and IronPigs won 7-3, snapping a three-game losing streak.
The win went to IronPigs’ relief pitcher James Marvel, his second of the season, while the loss went to RailRiders’ starter Hayden Wesneski (1.2 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 0 SO).
Game two of the series continues tonight at 6:35 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub, and pick up IronPigs merchandise today at Fanatics.com.
